Alienware Blurs the Line Between Console and PC

[Azulmoon]

I heard "Blurs the line between console and PC" and thought to myself "They're building PCs with surprisingly small amounts of RAM?" Anyway, I've never owned an Alienware personally, so perhaps I'll hold my judgment on whether the price is worth it. I'll always prefer the idea of building my own to prebuilt though. There's just something about hunting across the internet for the best combination of parts for the lowest price that intrigues me.

 

[Wolfram23]

BULLSHIT

A 545 is NOT running BF3 at 1080p at "mostly high" settings. No fucking way. It'll run it at low, with some medium thrown in.

Also, small form factor is not in any way new. You could easily build yourself a better machine than this. Allow me to try, simply from newegg.ca parts:

i3 2120 http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115077
BioStar H61 mATX mobo http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813138332
Patriot Signature 8gb 1600mhz RAM http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820220570
XFX Double D 6790 1gb GPU http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150534
Hitachi 750GB 7200rpm HDD http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822145532
Apevia Small Form Factor Case with 420W PSU http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811144161
Samsung BluRay drive http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151222
Windows 7 64 bit http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116986

Total: $725.92

Not 100% sure that 420W PSU is enough though, so maybe add $62 for a Silverstone 500W PSU http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817256061

 

[Valanthe]

I love the direction this idea is heading, and I think if this little guy is popular enough, you will start to see other companies (Ones that don't charge double what the product is worth just so you can have a fancy case) pick up the idea and run with it.

At least that's what I'm hoping for.

 

[Zing]

Ugh. Alienware are just as bad as Apple.

 

[VladG]

Pointless and over-priced. For that money you can get either a slightly better laptop with HDMI and integrated bluetooth that can for all purposes act exactly like this thing, only smaller and actually 100% portable or a MUCH stronger desktop rig.

For reference my current rig costs half as much as the alienware thing and it's considerably more powerful.

I also VERY much doubt an nvidia 545 will run Battlefield 3 anywhere near close to max. I'm not sure my 6850 can, and according to benchmarks it's more than twice as powerful.

 

[Vanbael]

um...not interested to say the least. I'm getting a gaming PC (still in production grr...) that has better specs already. And thermal conduction might be a ***** to say the least when you're working with that size. Come on Alienware, STEP IT UP! I know you can do better than that for console production.

What I would rather see: A console that is slightly bigger than the old PS3 for ventilation purposes, has all the glowy bits on it like it should have. Slightly better specs, Get it an i7 Processor, keep the 4GB ram (its enough for anything gaming) but up the graphics as well. Then add wireless peripherals like Keyboard, Mouse, Controller. Then you can transform anyone's living room television into a Gaming PC.
Good effort though, better luck next time.

 

[Adam Jensen_v1legacy]

This should, according to Alienware, run Battlefield 3 in 1080p with mostly high settings at around 32 frames-per-second. All for a meagre £699.

Oh, fuck off Alienware. And I'm not saying this as a joke like "ahha, fuck off". I mean it in all seriousness - fuck off!
I can build an insane full tower rig for that kind of money. I still have the same PC that I bought 4 years ago (!!!) and it still runs 90% of games on highest settings. Right now, a PC like mine can be bought new for $400, maybe even less depending on where you look.

 

[Fearzone]

Yeah, THIS is the new thing, not the crazy shit Razer is doing.

Not sure Alienware has it quite right, but maybe, and in any case on the right track. I still want maximal PC power, just something that blends in a little better when plugged into the TV.

While the keyboard fits fine on the lap, now somebody has to figure out a good solution for the mouse. I mean, my little wooden side table works fine, but maybe a good laptop mouse solution would be better. Maybe not, but I'd give it a go to compare.

A case shaped like a large stereo receiver that houses: a motherboard + processor + fans + video/sound/network cards + power supply + 2 hard drives would work. I can go external USB for disc players, and maybe even hard drives; that wouldn't absolutely have to be part of the case so we could cut down on size that way. Accommodations for water cooling would be reassuring if I ever needed it, but I have yet to. Something like that with USB ports in the front that fits on a stereo shelf would be great. I just need the case.

 

[megasamus1]

I think this may be a great item for people who aren't quite as adept at gaming PC construction as others. That said: I am not looking forward to the xbox live trolls and general morons that could filter into the PC gaming world if this becomes a standard. I like the idea of merging the two hardware and presentation types together somewhat; but I also don't want more and more vocal micspammers on TF2 (among other games, and other idiot groups).

Also: Is it just me, or does anyone else besides me still like those beige monolith style PC cases? I used to love surprising friends with a mid-high range gaming PC with the aesthetic quality of my old Windows 2000 box. Was always fun booting up Crysis on that old thing...

 

[king_katchit]

I...I don't have a problem with this.

I like the design and the specs aren't THAT bad. The price is a little steep, but the build quality is usually pretty good on Alienware machines. (Well, apart from the m11x.)

Did I read somewhere that is upgradable too?

 

[MartianWarMachine]

This thing is a tabby, not a lion.

Aww, but I love little kitties! They're so cute and fluffy and adorable and snuggly~ ^w^

OT: I'd rather have a SKYSCRAPER for a computer than an Xbox look-a-like. Or maybe even a giant space station! Imagine a Death Star designed to run games so fast that Usain Bolt would have trouble keeping up! Erm, I've gon off-topic, haven't I?

 

[Dahaka27]

I have a huge ugly gaming PC in my TV stand/unit in my bedroom connected to my TV via HDMI acting as my monitor. I also have a PS3 Slim and an original 360 Elite in there too at the same time gathering dust.
I really don't see why anyone would need one of these when a moderate sized stand can swallow all 3.

 

[Wilbot666]

What's so wrong about kickin back on your couch for some Minecraft?

Burn the witch!

HAHA! I know your just joking around but I got to ask.. Would your head explode if I told you I not only play on the couch but I play with a 360 gamepad while on the couch? I mean really, theres no other way to play for me.

My head remains (thankfully) unexploded. I can see how you would be pretty comfortable playing that way but now I have to ask: How do you go playing old-style RPGs and the like on a controller? I play a lot of the old Infinity Engine games (Baldur's Gate, Icewind Dale, Torment etc) and can't really see them being much chop with a gamepad.

At the end of the day I realise that it's basically personal choice, just curious how you go with that type of point and click game.

 

[Akimoto]

Im actually tired of the generic tower case'd gaming rig, that is why Im goign to go retro and have a table rig......actually built into a table.


It should be interesting, having a coffee table or desk that only has a screen on it.

OT: As a console gamer and PC gamer, I cant help this is made primarily for the people who want to get into PC gaming.

Sure, it also could be for the people who cant have a 50 lbs. behemoth in their room, but even my non gaming computer has better stats.

Should have thought of that, would have saved me the space.

Re OT: I'm not against non-gaming computers being small or slim. My beef is gaming computers being slim and having what I perceive and experience as insufficient cooling. Than again the computer chassis does not have to be a behemoth - a breadth and length of 20 and 50cm is fine. Sorry for the metric, I'm Asian

 

[RUINER ACTUAL]

I think this niche doesn't exist for a reason.

PC is either portable laptop, or spacious enough that you can easily get to components to upgrade/repair parts.

People who are taking to the approach to gaming where it should just "plug it in and bloody work as however you deem fit" will always lose out to Xbox or Playstation. And the PC trying to compete for slots in the HDTV I think it a bad room. That is spatial competition where it is not strong.

The PC is strong at the table with a computer monitor. Millions of people will flock to their desks to play games as with World of Warcraft, Minecraft and Steam.

You sound like you don't want it to exist. What's so wrong about kickin back on your couch for some Minecraft? NO! You must be at your DESK. I'm just saying, be open, ya know? Don't be so defensive about what PC gaming should be. And not even gaming. Eg. Watch Youtube videos on your HDTV with your friends. Skype with your family. Switch inputs and look up gaming tips. Maybe you throw a blu-ray player in it. Plus we don't know what Windows 8 is going to do exactly, but it looks like a lot of home entertainment things. Oh, another one: really loud music on your 5.1 surround. Just because its from Alienware doesn't mean its strictly for gaming. Maybe I'd like to do some 3D animation on my couch, not at my desk. Feel a bit more relaxed.

Well, It's not so much that I'm not a fan of PCs in HDTVS i'm not a fan of almost ANY games console in a HDTV!

As far as I am concerned, the only value use of a huge screen is for groups of people as it's easier to get more people round a largr screen while retaining a good screen angle and apparent size (complicated geometry).

So big HDTVs are social gadgets, they are a waste if it's one person playing it as so few games today (and virtually none on PC) have split-screen or same-screen multiplayer. If it's just one person watching a screen it doesn't matter if they are 3-foot from a 24-inch screen or 9 foot from a 72 inch screen, it will fill the same field of their vision and they will be able to resolve the same detail just as well. It's a waste having such large HDTVs. It's like building a 100foot wide HDTV on the opposite side of the Grand Canyon.

Ok I gotcha/agree. No sense in watching 480p Youtube videos on a 60" LED. I have a small room, thats why when I was buying a new TV a few years ago, I axed the whole TV idea and just bought a really nice 21" LCD monitor. I got HDMI running between it, my 360, my surround sound, and my laptop (just switch input). Having something like this would be a nice edition to my tech eco system without taking up anymore limited space.

 

[CrystalShadow]

Ah... Small form factor PC's.

I have a 'small' gaming PC. And it is smaller than some of the giant cases around, but it's not exactly tiny.

I also came to the realisation that desktop PC's from the mid-90's would actually be considered 'small form factor' by modern standards, despite at the time not being notably worse than any other PC in terms of performance or upgrade potential.

That reminds me... Whatever happened to the Desktop PC?

You pretty much don't see those anymore. Almost everything is a tower design or something else altogether...

What happened to the small box that you could place directly under your monitor?

 

[RUINER ACTUAL]

What's wrong with hooking up your mid tower to your TV? "ZOMG PEOPLE WILL THINK I'M A NERD!"?

I'd say having a computer with an alien head button just might be worse.

I do it sometimes, and it's awesome.

Why does everyone have an axe to grind against Alienware? Of course you're going to pay a bit more for it. It has style to it. A lot goes into what the hardware looks like. They are purpose built for gaming, which means they are built to perform at higher temperatures and take it, and be able to be customized more easily than mass manufactured computers, especially laptops. Why don't I ever hear as loud of an outcry against Apple when they show off v1.5(plus a letter, maybe) of the iPhone? Their prices are even more extreme for the name! Yes Dell owns Alienware, but it's the same as GM owning Chevy. EG, Just because you hate General Motors doesn't necessarily mean you hate the Corvette, right?

I have a 2008 version Alienware m15x, and its solid. I knew it'd be great for 3D rendering because its already built to take that kind of stress. Yes I overpaid for it, but I DONT GIVE A FUCK. And it looks bloody AWESOME.

Is it "just beacuse you didn't build it, you're not a PC gamer" or something? You can't be welcomed into the brotherhood of PC Elitists? My friend purpose built an ASUS laptop last spring for 3D animation and rendering and it cost like $3000. He just wanted raw power and portability.

I guess my point is not everyone who uses or needs a powerful PC will only use it at home and only for games. Alienware is one of few options that allow powerful portability (also 3D), ASUS being another one. And I've never heard of anyone building, from scratch, a portable gaming laptop, with parts from newegg.

 

[Treblaine]

I think this niche doesn't exist for a reason.

PC is either portable laptop, or spacious enough that you can easily get to components to upgrade/repair parts.

People who are taking to the approach to gaming where it should just "plug it in and bloody work as however you deem fit" will always lose out to Xbox or Playstation. And the PC trying to compete for slots in the HDTV I think it a bad room. That is spatial competition where it is not strong.

The PC is strong at the table with a computer monitor. Millions of people will flock to their desks to play games as with World of Warcraft, Minecraft and Steam.

You sound like you don't want it to exist. What's so wrong about kickin back on your couch for some Minecraft? NO! You must be at your DESK. I'm just saying, be open, ya know? Don't be so defensive about what PC gaming should be. And not even gaming. Eg. Watch Youtube videos on your HDTV with your friends. Skype with your family. Switch inputs and look up gaming tips. Maybe you throw a blu-ray player in it. Plus we don't know what Windows 8 is going to do exactly, but it looks like a lot of home entertainment things. Oh, another one: really loud music on your 5.1 surround. Just because its from Alienware doesn't mean its strictly for gaming. Maybe I'd like to do some 3D animation on my couch, not at my desk. Feel a bit more relaxed.

Well, It's not so much that I'm not a fan of PCs in HDTVS i'm not a fan of almost ANY games console in a HDTV!

As far as I am concerned, the only value use of a huge screen is for groups of people as it's easier to get more people round a largr screen while retaining a good screen angle and apparent size (complicated geometry).

So big HDTVs are social gadgets, they are a waste if it's one person playing it as so few games today (and virtually none on PC) have split-screen or same-screen multiplayer. If it's just one person watching a screen it doesn't matter if they are 3-foot from a 24-inch screen or 9 foot from a 72 inch screen, it will fill the same field of their vision and they will be able to resolve the same detail just as well. It's a waste having such large HDTVs. It's like building a 100foot wide HDTV on the opposite side of the Grand Canyon.

Ok I gotcha/agree. No sense in watching 480p Youtube videos on a 60" LED. I have a small room, thats why when I was buying a new TV a few years ago, I axed the whole TV idea and just bought a really nice 21" LCD monitor. I got HDMI running between it, my 360, my surround sound, and my laptop (just switch input). Having something like this would be a nice edition to my tech eco system without taking up anymore limited space.

Have you tried the VGA output on 360? Call be crazy but I prefer it, mainly because it avoids a lot of HDCP induced bugs but because I can use it on a monitor that is plugged into a dedicated PC DVI output. Not many consoles have VGA output and it was a major selling point of the xbox 360 to me, it let me have HD output way before I could afford any kind of HDTV.

 

[RUINER ACTUAL]

I think this niche doesn't exist for a reason.

PC is either portable laptop, or spacious enough that you can easily get to components to upgrade/repair parts.

People who are taking to the approach to gaming where it should just "plug it in and bloody work as however you deem fit" will always lose out to Xbox or Playstation. And the PC trying to compete for slots in the HDTV I think it a bad room. That is spatial competition where it is not strong.

The PC is strong at the table with a computer monitor. Millions of people will flock to their desks to play games as with World of Warcraft, Minecraft and Steam.

You sound like you don't want it to exist. What's so wrong about kickin back on your couch for some Minecraft? NO! You must be at your DESK. I'm just saying, be open, ya know? Don't be so defensive about what PC gaming should be. And not even gaming. Eg. Watch Youtube videos on your HDTV with your friends. Skype with your family. Switch inputs and look up gaming tips. Maybe you throw a blu-ray player in it. Plus we don't know what Windows 8 is going to do exactly, but it looks like a lot of home entertainment things. Oh, another one: really loud music on your 5.1 surround. Just because its from Alienware doesn't mean its strictly for gaming. Maybe I'd like to do some 3D animation on my couch, not at my desk. Feel a bit more relaxed.

Well, It's not so much that I'm not a fan of PCs in HDTVS i'm not a fan of almost ANY games console in a HDTV!

As far as I am concerned, the only value use of a huge screen is for groups of people as it's easier to get more people round a largr screen while retaining a good screen angle and apparent size (complicated geometry).

So big HDTVs are social gadgets, they are a waste if it's one person playing it as so few games today (and virtually none on PC) have split-screen or same-screen multiplayer. If it's just one person watching a screen it doesn't matter if they are 3-foot from a 24-inch screen or 9 foot from a 72 inch screen, it will fill the same field of their vision and they will be able to resolve the same detail just as well. It's a waste having such large HDTVs. It's like building a 100foot wide HDTV on the opposite side of the Grand Canyon.

Ok I gotcha/agree. No sense in watching 480p Youtube videos on a 60" LED. I have a small room, thats why when I was buying a new TV a few years ago, I axed the whole TV idea and just bought a really nice 21" LCD monitor. I got HDMI running between it, my 360, my surround sound, and my laptop (just switch input). Having something like this would be a nice edition to my tech eco system without taking up anymore limited space.

Have you tried the VGA output on 360? Call be crazy but I prefer it, mainly because it avoids a lot of HDCP induced bugs but because I can use it on a monitor that is plugged into a dedicated PC DVI output. Not many consoles have VGA output and it was a major selling point of the xbox 360 to me, it let me have HD output way before I could afford any kind of HDTV.

No, never had a reason. My surround sound depends on the HDMI, and I don't even remember how I have it rigged up.

 

[Innegativeion]

People who are taking to the approach to gaming where it should just "plug it in and bloody work as however you deem fit" will always lose out to Xbox or Playstation. And the PC trying to compete for slots in the HDTV I think it a bad room. That is spatial competition where it is not strong.

This trend is not going to last for long. Computing power is becoming more and more compact.

Within the decade I predict every electronic devise we own will be able to access every rectangle-shaped piece of glass in our house seamlessly, or at least nearly. That concept is already starting to gain momentum, in fact.

Its just the logical extreme of browsers on phones and game consoles, or console controllers plugged into PCs, or PCs plugged into TV screens.